India's stand-in captain for the South Africa series, KL Rahul, scored an effective 60(56) in the first ODI in Ranchi and helped the team reach 349 from 200/4, when he walked in to bat. Notably, he batted after Washington Sundar, who could not deliver on the day after coming in to bat with 23.3 overs left.
While there is a lot of debate around the promotion of Axar Patel and Washington Sundar at 5 in recent ODIs, we explore India's best option for the position and how KL Rahul has fared in different middle-order spots.
How has KL Rahul performed at each middle order (4-6) position? Over the past few years, KL Rahul has moved from opening the batting to playing in the middle order for good. Under Rahul Dravid, he was India's designated wicketkeeper and a regular number 5 and had an important role to play during the World Cup 2023 run to the final.
After Gautam Gambhir took over as the coach, the left-hand-right-hand combination earned prominence in the white-ball set-up and Axar Patel started batting over him, which continued in the recent Australia tour. However, despite Axar's absence from the ongoing ODIs, he stayed at number 6, but Sundar could not make a notable contribution at the position, raising questions over Rahul's best position.
Here's a breakdown of KL Rahul's numbers in the middle order:
Criterion Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table
At 4 Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table
At 5 Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table
At 6 Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table
InningsSelect Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 13Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 31Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 11Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table RunsSelect Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 558Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 1299Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 303Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table AverageSelect Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 55.80Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 56.47Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 43.28Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Strike RateSelect Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 86.78Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 96.36Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 96.49Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table HighestSelect Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 111*Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 112Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 60Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 50/100Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 3/2Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 9/2Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 1/0Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table
(KL Rahul's stats in the middle order)
India's options at 5 and 6 Considering Shreyas Iyer has cemented his spot at number 4, India is currently in a conundrum to find their perfect combination to finish the innings strongly at number 5 and 6. Here's how India's current options at numbers 5 and 6 have performed since January 2021.
At 5 Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table
KL Rahul Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table
Axar Patel Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table
Rishabh Pant Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table
Washington Sundar Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table
InningsSelect Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 26Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 11Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 2Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 1Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table RunsSelect Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 915Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 320Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 133Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 13Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table AverageSelect Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 57.18Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 35.55Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 66.50Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 13.00Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Strike RateSelect Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 90.50Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 88.88Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 141.48Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 68.42Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table HighestSelect Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 102Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 52Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 77Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 13Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 50/100Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 6/1Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 1/0Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 2/0Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 0/0Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table
(India's current options for number 5)
At 5 Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table
KL Rahul Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table
Hardik Pandya Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table
InningsSelect Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 11Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 27Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table RunsSelect Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 292Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 537Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table AverageSelect Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 41.71Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 31.58Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Strike RateSelect Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 93.89Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 101.70Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table HighestSelect Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 60Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 87Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 50/100Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 1/0Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 4/0Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table
(India's number 6 options since 2021).
Inference KL Rahul finds himself head and shoulders above the rest in a tough batting position with a considerable sample size. His average is a testament to his ability to bat in the middle overs as well as at the death.
On the other hand, some options like Axar Patel and Washington Sundar , who recently batted above him, also lag in terms of strike rates.
When it comes to batting at 6, Rahul has shown his ability to stay not out and finish the innings strongly. However, Pandya's strike rate at a finisher's position is impressive and has more experience in finishing off the games.
Conclusion With Pandya out injured, India's other options at number 6 do not possess much experience, which is why KL Rahul batting at 6 in the South Africa and potentially in the New Zealand series would make a lot of sense.
However, thinking of the long term, once both Pandya and Iyer come back, India will look to find a stable middle order, irrespective of the rhb-lhb combination.
Additionally, when India travels overseas, especially to South Africa for the 2027 World Cup, they will only be able to field one of the spin-bowling all-rounders to complement Pandya in the lower middle order, who will also be the second spinner in the bowling line-up.
In a nutshell, as things stand, KL Rahul could bat at 6 until Pandya returns to the XI. Once the pace bowling all-rounder returns, India should ideally go back to the middle order that succeeded during the Dravid-Rohit era in the last few years, i.e., Iyer, Rahul and Pandya as 4-6 followed by Axar/Jadeja/Sundar.
Instead of Sundar at 5, they can also play with Pant for the remainder of the South Africa series.
![KL Rahul scored 60(56) vs SA in Ranchi [Source: AFP Photos]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1764514316475_kl_rahul_india.jpg?type=hq)
KL Rahul scored 60(56) vs SA in Ranchi [Source: AFP Photos].jpg)
